Important Points:

Preface:

Although many veterans considered Fort Gregg their hardest fight of the war, and the battle was refought vociferously in the newspapers and magazines after the war, the dramatic story of Fort Gregg was somehow lost until now.1

Author John Fox doesn’t directly mention it, but his book is the first modern monograph focusing specifically on this battle.

In March 1865 Lee’s Confederate army of 56,000 men held over 40 miles of entrenchments against greater than 100,000 Union soldiers. He had one railroad supply line left and it was highly vulnerable. Lee meant to escape and join Johnston’s Army of Tennessee to prolong the war. Grant feared just such a thing and wanted to move as soon as good weather appeared.2

Grant’s plan happened first. He took soldiers from Gibbon’s Twenty-Fourth Corps in the Army of the James who were in trenches opposite Richmond and swung them all the way to the far left of his lines, allowing the Union Second Corps and Fifth Corps to extend the Union lines even further southwest to Dinwiddie Court House.3

A series of battles along the lines southwest of Petersburg and culminating with the Battle of Five Forks essentially cut Lee’s final supply line and set the stage for the final assaults on Petersburg.4

After the Five Forks disaster, Lee pulled three of Bushrod Johnson’s brigades from the line near the White Oak Road and had them move to help Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry near the South Side Railroad. This left a portion of the line held by a skeleton force, and Lee ordered Field’s Division of the First Corps to move from the works north of the James to fill this hole, hoping Grant wouldn’t discover it and attack.5

The origins, purpose, and physical appearance of Fort Gregg, Fort Whitworth, and Fort Owen are discussed.6

Some of the defenders of Fort Gregg were listed with background late in the chapter.7

Chapter 3: The Union Breakthrough: April 1, Evening, to April 2, 5:45 AM

First part of Chapter 3 covers the successful April 2 morning frontal assault by Wright’s Sixth Corps against three brigades of Wilcox’s Division. Around 14,000 Federals faced 3000 or so Confederates in an attack which started at 4:40 AM with the firing of a signal gun.

Wright’s troops first wheeled left and advanced down the Confederate lines four miles to Hatcher’s Run. There they met Gibbon’s Twenty-Fourth Corps, and together they moved northeast again, towards Petersburg.

Confederates southwest of the breach retreated in the direction of Hatcher’s Run, those east of ther breach headed northeast to Forts Gregg and Whitworth, near Petersburg.

Troops from Hamblin’s 2nd Brig, Wheaton’s Div, Sixth Corps moved northeast towards Petersburg to hold onto the Confederate works from an attack in this direction. By 5:45 AM, they had come near Fort Owen, and it looked like it would fall easily.

A.P. Hill was killed by a Union soldier around 6:40 AM on April 3 while reconnoitering his broken Third Corps lines.

Around 6:40 in the morning, Hamblin’s Union Brigade managed to capture Fort Owen briefly until a charge from Fort Gregg reversed the situation.8

Cadmus Wilcox was in charge of the line attempting to hold off Union forces from entering Petersburg from the southwest. He had reinforcements coming in the form of almost 400 men from harris’ MS Brigade, Mahone’s Div. Wilcox wanted to counterattack, but brigade leader James Lane disagreed, wanting not only not to attack, but also to abandon Forts Whitworth and Gregg and retreat to the Dimmock line proper. Wilcox insisted, and the stage was set for a “Confederate Alamo”.9

Chapter 5: Confederates Punch Back: April 2, 7 AM

Lane’s and Thomas’s Brigades of Wilcox’s Division were ordered to counterattack southwest of Fort Gregg, and did so successfully. However, Gibbon’s Twenty-Fourth Corps was fast approaching.10

The Foster’s First Division and Turber’s Independent Division of the Union Twenty-Fourth Corps were left of the Sixth Corps in the Union line. They took over the Confederate works near Hatcher’s Run as Wright approached from the flank. Then, Sixth and Twenty-Fourth Corps moved northeast to within a mile of Fort Gregg and Fort Whitworth, where Lane, Thomas, and Harris (about 1000 men total) were arrayed to delay them Lee depended on these three small brigades to hold out long enough for Charles Field’s veteran First Corps division to reach Petersburg and man the western end of the Dimmock Line. Failure meant the destruction of a large portion of Lee’s Army.11

Chapter 6: Reality Reaches Richmond: April 2, 8 AM to 11:15 AM

Harris’ MS Brigade presented a bold front to the large mass of Union soldiers, and used the terrain to hide their weakness. Lane and Thomas were off to his left. Being closer to the Northern troops, they left in the direction of Fort Gregg earlier than Harris.

Postwar controversy erupted when Harris indicated his was the only brigade west of Fort Gregg at that point. Fox surmises Harris could not see the other two Confederate brigades due to the terrain.

Lee telegraphed Richmond that he hoped to hold out until night, but that Richmond needed to be evacuated.

Turner’s and Foster’s Divisions of the 24th Corps maneuvered slowly into position against Fort Whitworth and Fort Gregg up to around 10:30 AM, but Gibbon was waiting for some of the 6th Corps to come up as well. At this point there were almost no troops guarding the western approaches to Petersburg other than those men in the two forts.12

Chapter 8: Walker’s Unusual Artillery Order: April 2, 10 AM to Noon

Confederate artilleryman Brig Gen R. Lindsay Walker gave the order to remove all artillery from Forts Whitworth and Gregg. Division commander Cadmus Wilcox disagreed. Ultimately, Fort Gregg never got this order. Two Union artillery batteries from the 6th Corps artillery reserve moved up to support the soon to come Federal attack. The Confederates fired their winter camps in front of Fort Whitworth to make it more difficult on the Union attackers.13

This chapter covers the defenders of Ft. Gregg and what they went through once they realized they were the last defense in front of Petersburg. Some men ran when they realized the twin forts were essentially a death trap, but ultimately about 334 men stayed to defend Fort Gregg to the last. Men from Harris’ Mississippi Brigade, as well as contingents of North Carolinians and Georgians as well as Third Corps artillerists were crammed into the fort.14

Chapter 10: A Long Wait to Attack: April 2, 11:15 AM to 1 PM

As Foster’s Division of the 24th Corps waited, Turner’s Division moved slowly into position to the north, facing Fort Whitworth. While this was happening, Union skirmishers were peppering Fort Gregg, trying to make the Confederates keep their heads down. Once 6th Corps divisions were in supporting distance, Gibbon ordered Foster to attack around 1 PM.15

Chapter 11: Osborn’s East Wing Attacks in First Wave: April 2, 1 PM

Colonel Thomas Osborn’s 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps attacked the south and east side of Fort Gregg around 1 PM on April 2, 1865, in conjunction with Dandy’s Brigade to its left. The steep walls, water filled moat, and Confederate fire kept these men pinned down at the base of the wall.16

Chapter 12: Dandy’s West Wing Attacks in First wave: April 2, 1 PM

Colonel George Dandy’s 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps attacked the southwest and west side of Fort Gregg around 1 PM on April 2, 1865, in conjunction with Osborn’s Brigade to its right. The shallower moat combines with dirt piled near and up to the rampart allowed Dandy’s two regiments to climb the wall much more easily. Dandy’s younger brother died in this fight while leading his regiment’s charge.17

The Confederates in Fort Gregg prepared for the first main Union assault as best they could. Walker’s order to remove the cannon from Fort Whitworth reached that place and four valuable Napoleons which could have enfiladed the Union attack were pulled back.18

Chapter 14: Low on Ammunition and No Reinforcements, April 2, 1 PM to 2 PM

The Confederate defenders began to run low on ammunition and resorted to using bayonets and bricks to beat back the ever increasing presence of Union soldiers around the fort. Combat was at extreme close range at this point on all sides of the fort.19

The first reinforcements from Field’s First Corps division reached Petersburg around 11 am, though they did not make it to the threatened western edge of the city until two hours later. These reinforcements were 260 men of the 2nd and 20th Georgia regiments of Benning’s Brigade. The defenders of Fort Gregg had no way of knowing these reinforcements had come, because they only went as far as the inner line, not all the way to Fort Gregg, which was doomed.20

Chapter 15: Union Reinforcements Hit the West Wall, April 2, 2 PM

The 89th and 158th New York regiments from Fairchild’s 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 24th Corps, around 600 men, were sent into the fight and charged Fort Gregg’s west wall. The renewed pressure here forced the Confederates to slacken fire elsewhere and allowed Union troops from Dandy’s and Osborn’s Brigades to gain a stronger foothold against the fort.21

Chapter 16: Another Union Division Attacks, April 2, 2:15 PM

Curtis’ and Potter’s brigades of Turner’s Independent Division of the 24th Corps next advanced in a third wave around 2:15 PM. The men from the first two waves joined up with these new men and gained footholds all along the parapet of Fort Gregg, some men even starting to drop into the fort. This chapter focuses on Potter’s assault.22

The first part of the chapter covers the attack of Curtis’ Brigade. Eventually, the Union men found a weak spot at the northwest corner of the fort where the trench to Fort Whitworth had been started. Men climbed dirt from this trench to the parapet and swarmed inside. The Confederates’ attention was drawn to this area and soon Union soldiers were dropping into the Fort from all directions.23

Chapter 18: Inside the Pit of Fort Gregg, April 2, 2:45 PM to 3:15 PM

Once enough Federal soldiers got into Fort Gregg, the fighting became hand to hand. Eventually the Confederates were forced to surrender. Fox details some accusations of atrocities committed when some Union troops continued to kill and wound men who had already surrendered.24

Chapter 19: Fort Whitworth, April 2, 3:15 PM

After Fort Gregg fell, other Union forces moved in the direction of Fort Gregg. Nathaniel Harris received orders to retre with his two Mississippi regiments before the Federals closed, however. Charles Field’s other brigades arrived throughout the day until the whole division was present by about sunset. The Union soldiers did not ever make a serious move beyond Forts Whitworth and Gregg once Fort Gregg fell. Lee ordered the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond that evening.25

Chapter 20: Did Sacrificing the Twin Forts Allow Lee to Escape? April 3, 1865, to June 13, 1865

Richmond and Petersburg were evacuated the night of April 2, 1865.

The fate of the Confederate prisoners from the battle was next discussed.

Ultimately, the defenders of Fort Gregg bought Lee’s army another week of life, not enough time to rendezvous with General Joe Johnston’s forces further south.

Epilogue

The author speculates why the Battle for Fort Gregg is not better known today despite leaving a major imprint on Civil War veterans who were in or near the struggle.

Fort Gregg and Fort Whitworth were spared destruction in the 1970s despite an interstate highway being built directly between them.

Appendix A: The Fort Gregg Area Today

Driving directions, a map of the present day area, and photos taken at the forts today make up this appendix.

Appendix B: Order of Battle

This order of battle is one of the better ones I’ve seen, showing wherever possible all unit strengths and commanders of the units involved in the Battle of Fort Gregg.

Appendix C: Fort Gregg Casualties

An attempt is made to provide accurate casualty figures for all units involved in the Battle of Fort Gregg down to regimental level.

Appendix D: Confederates at Fort Gregg

The author made an attempt to list all of the men who possibly defended Fort Gregg on April 2, 1865. Due to poor record keeping and lost records from late in the war, this is impossible to do with 100% certainty. Fox listed men in regular type if they were definitely guarding the fort. He moved on to italics and then a * and italics to denote probable and possible defenders. The total list results in more men than the 334 the author estimates defended Fort Gregg that day.

Appendix E: Fort Whitworth’s Controversial Artillery Withdrawal

Third Corps artillery chief R. L. Walker’s controversial order to remove artillery from Fort Whitworth caused the loss of support of these four guns by Fort Gregg. Fox goes over whether or not the guns could have made a difference in Fort Gregg’s holding out for a longer period of time. A look at postwar accusations and recriminations around the event ends the appendix.

Appendix F: The First Union Flag on Fort Gregg Controversy

Fox discusses the postwar battles fought among the Union regiments as to whose flag was first planted on Fort Gregg, sifting among the claimants and going over the difficulties involved in being able to tell the ownership of a given flag through the smoke and confusion of battle.

Another postwar controversy involved the artillerymen serving as infantry and those who manned the guns in Fort Gregg. The Washington Artillery tended to dismiss the participation of Chew’s Battery, among other disagreements.

Appendix H: Fort Gregg Medal of Honor Recipients

This appendix features a list of the Union soldiers who earned Medals of Honor for their axtions during the assault on Fort Gregg.

Unit Strengths

Field’s Division, First Corps, ANV: 4600 “riflemen” on April 1, 1865. Is this PFD or effectives?26

Harris’ MS Brig, Mahone’s Div, Third Corps, ANV: almost 400 men at Fort Gregg and environs on April 2, 1865, but a total strength of almost 600.27

Lane’s NC Brig and Thomas’ GA Brigade combined had about 600 men when they counterattacked southwest from Fort Gregg on the morning of April 2, 1865.28

Note: All unit strengths when known of those troops participating directly in the battle are listed in the Order of Battle at the back of the book. The following information is taken from that order of battle:31

Note: All unit commanders when known of those troops participating directly in the battle are listed in the Order of Battle at the back of the book. The following information is taken from that order of battle:43

You had asked some time ago about the 55th Pa during the siege of Petersburg. Looking into this time frame of the regiment, I too have lost them during the Fort Gregg and Baldwin affair. I know they were with the XXVIII Corp, 1st Division under Gen Foster, and with the 4th Brigade. By 2:00 PM, “ELEMENTS” of the 4th Brigade were sent to the west wall and the 89th and 158th NY made it atop the wall. Now what were the remaining regiments doing and where. The 55th Pa was involved somewhere as Capt Hezekiah Hammer, Co K, was severely wounded , and it costs him his left arm, but I have yet to locate them. Do you have a fix on them here? You can find me at this EMail or on this facebook group. Thanks. https://www.facebook.com/groups/252314074944692/